The WIPP Recovery Plan and the 2016 budget request stated that WIPP would reopen in March 2016. That date proved unrealistic even for the proposed limited operations of about 200 shipments per year. At the peak rate in 2006, there were 1,128 shipments. Among the reasons that shipments would be limited is that the airflow capacity in the underground to protect workers and to operate equipment is one-seventh of that when the 2014 events occurred. Airflow is reduced because contamination in the underground requires filtering the air before it is released into the environment.

To restore the full airflow capacity, DOE plans to install additional ventilation in three phases.

The “interim” ventilation system would double the amount of filtered air and was to be operational in April 2015, but is about a year late because the system had manufacturing flaws and was damaged during shipment.

Second, the “supplemental” ventilation system would increase airflow in the “clean” part of the facility and not filter the air. The supplemental system was to be operational in December 2015, but is now delayed until March 2017.

Third, the “permanent” ventilation system would require a new 2,150 feet deep exhaust shaft and two underground tunnels. The design is to be done by January 2018 and might be operational by 2021. There is no total estimated cost for the permanent system. The contract for Nuclear Waste Partnership, a limited liability corporation that operates WIPP, has increased by more than $300 million because of the February 2014 events.

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE TO SUPPORT THE TULAROSA BASIN DOWNWINDERS CONSORTIUM ON RECA AMENDMENTS

Please contact the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Minority Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and ask them to set the date for the RECA Oversight Hearing. Knowing the September hearing date will allow us to properly prepare for the hearing. The hearing will be televised on C-SPAN and on the Judiciary Committee’s website.